For Fairfield Hills––

Candidates Divided On Merits Of The Master Plan

By Jan Howard

While First Selectman Herb Rosenthal this week urged Newtown voters to approve the Fairfield Hills Master Plan, his Republican opponent in November’s election, Bill Sheluck, called for a No vote.

The advisory referendum on the master plan is scheduled for August 12 from 6 am to 8 pm at the Middle School on Queen Street.

In a press release this week, Mr Sheluck asked, “Why rush to approve a master plan for Fairfield Hills when we haven’t even completed negotiations to purchase the property and won’t take title until the spring 2004 at the earliest?”

Mr Rosenthal said this week that he expects the town and state would close on the property by fall.

Mr Sheluck also expressed opposition to the creation of a six-member public authority appointed by the first selectman to oversee development of areas of the campus designated for business use.

Enabling legislation creating a Fairfield Hills Authority is at present in limbo in Hartford, awaiting passage of a state budget. State Sen John McKinney (R-28th) and State Rep Julia Wasserman (R-106th) hope to attach the special act to a budget implementer bill, but first there has to be a budget. The House passed the budget on Wednesday, and the Senate was to vote on it on Thursday. If the budget passes and is signed by Gov John Rowland, action on the implementer bills would take place next week, according to an aide to Rep Wasserman.

The Fairfield Hills Authority would govern private uses at Fairfield Hills. It would not be created until purchase of the property from the state was completed.

The town meeting vote that approved the bond resolution of $21,850,000 for purchase of Fairfield Hills in June 2001 also put in place, in addition to other projects, funding for a town hall. The master plan anticipates costs of $7.2 million for a new town hall.

Mr Sheluck said in regard to a town hall, “I have pledged to look at the way every decision is made in town government and until that happens I cannot support the expenditure of almost $10 million for a new town hall at Fairfield Hills.”

Mr Rosenthal said this week that he hopes the decision on whether to renovate or build a new town hall will not be a determining factor in voters’ decision on the master plan. “I don’t want the plan to fail because of this issue,” he said. “The plan is bigger than one issue.

 “If people want us to look at it again, we will,” Mr Rosenthal said, noting that he intends to ask the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Monday, August 4, to approve a resolution that before going forward with any plans for additional town office space at Fairfield Hills, the design architect be charged again with looking at the options of renovation versus new construction.

Mr Sheluck said that the Town of Newtown had come through a very difficult budget season and, given the current uncertain economic environment and rising unemployment, “Newtown taxpayers are in no position to finance a ‘wish list’ for Fairfield Hills.

“We will be facing another tough budget cycle shortly,” he said, “and we must justify every proposed expenditure to the people of Newtown.”

Mr Rosenthal said this week that the master plan is not a wish list. “The wishes were from the public. Some were accommodated, others were not,” he said. He noted, however, “We can’t do anything until we get the plan approved. There is flexibility in the plan so future generations can make changes.”

Mr Sheluck encouraged the town to complete its negotiations with the state regarding Fairfield Hills and to commit only the funds necessary to purchase the property, maintain it, and develop the 38 acres set aside for commercial development.